Sodium hydroxide, a cleaning ACID???? (See mustard plant accident below...)

They probably meant "cleaning agent", but they should still correct their inconsistency for the record. Sodium Hydroxide is a strong base, not an
acid. I know that either NaOH or KOH are primary ingredients in typical cleaning agents for certain metals. The NaOH solution will remove grease and
oils and dirt and some oxides prior to pretreatment and coating applications of containers or whatever. On the other hand, acids (e.g., H2SO4) can also
be used sometimes in a pickling stage that is sometimes further downstream in the same process to remove some of the heavier metal oxides in order to
obtain the ultimate in a clean surface capable of being plated.

Richard Swanson
TheChem